The lives of Wichitans located in Sedgwick County, KS experiencing food insecurity are improved through ICT Food Rescues programs, which include Food Rescue and The Upcycle Kitchen. Our team serves to increase the availability of food for the food insecure of Wichita.  These programs aim to lower the food insecurity rate of Wichita. Facilitating both programs increases the amount of food available to our food insecure neighbors and the nonprofit partners we serve. The Upcycle Kitchen program adds a layer of dignity and respect served with meals utilizing rescued food that would otherwise end up in our local landfill.  According to Municipal Solid Waste, more than 39,500 tons of food waste end up in Wichita landfills annually.

In 2023 our team recorded 205,291 pounds of rescued food.  This amount of food was turned into the equivalent of 171,076 meals. ICT Food Rescue can consider this a savings of $396,210 to our partnered receiving agencies.  Our short term goal is to exceed these food rescue numbers each year of operation.  Naturally by increasing the amount of rescued food The Upcycle Kitchen would be able to produce more prepared meals. Our goal for 2025 is to rescue 15% more food surplus and upcycle an additional 50 meals per week.  This additional weight of 30,794 pounds of surplus food that would otherwise go to the city landfill will translate to 25,662 meals for persons experiencing food insecurity, which will save our community $59,432.